One of Your Favorite Band Members Just Pulled a Zayn Malik… & Left the Group!

It’s a bittersweet day in the world of Union J — after four years together, one of your favorite band members is saying goodbye. And it’s none other than George Shelley.

That’s right, the last guy to join the group — Josh Cuthbert, JJ Hamblett & Jaymi Hensley originally made up a trio, hence the name Union J, and George was later added through Season 9 of The X Factor; the band finished fourth — is the first one to bow out. The guys announced on their social media pages, “In 2012, we started something that has been the center of our lives ever since, a band and project that is now family to us — Union J.”

The note continued, “Through two incredible albums, successful tours and a lot of fun along the way, the four of us have all enjoyed this incredible journey. But with time, comes change and a difference in aspirations.”

“So, as we prepare to go back into the studio to work on new material” — brace yourselves — “George will not be continuing on this journey with us. George will now be following his own path and career no longer as part of Union J. This is a mutual decision between the four of us, and we will always remain close.” You read that right — he’s going solo!

The message concluded by saying, “In time we will announce our new plans for 2016 and likewise we will be following George’s career and wish him all the best in his endeavors.”

We should’ve known — after all, George has been noticeably absent recently. This pic was taken at Jaymi’s birthday party earlier this week:

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